A recent article published in the Sunday Times LIVE, highlighted Tara’s unique approach to Yoga for kids:

“A vision of flowing white cloth and elaborate eyelashes, Buzgar, 60, has a serene but fierce energy when she talks about children and yoga. Statistics fly. “Did you know 71% of kids today are stressed? They get demerits for being late for school. The beauty of teaching children yoga, is that it is not competitive. It is magical and playful,” Tara says.

“All the while, we are practising kundalini yoga which is all about awareness, healing and energising. Five minutes into the class you will feel a shift in energy.”

There is certainly a shift in energy when four little girls bound in. It will be interesting to see whether the girls, aged four to eight, will cause havoc in this tranquil space.

Buzgar explains that her class is less about perfecting downward-facing dog and more about fun, practising poses while pretending to be elephants, sunflowers and snakes. And no swinging by limbs.

They start “rolling like a log”. “It stimulates the nervous system.”

The girls roll from one end of the room to the other, laughing when they land on top of each other.

Then they hop on mats like frogs and quack like ducks while waddling. “It is energising, stimulates the immune system and gives stamina.”

While children are naturally more flexible than adults, seated in a circle “like petals of a sunflower”, the girls struggle to straighten their hamstrings while touching their toes. Buzgar manages easily. “Tension, you see? They can’t do it even though they are so young.”

She teaches them deep breathing by making their tummies “pillows”. “Pretend there is a big birthday cake with magic candles. Blow them out,” and they practise hyperventilation breathing.

“Stretching snakes” are back extensions, oblique twists are “wishy-washy washing machines”. The girls have a ball.

They finish by becoming “floppy like spaghetti”. “Lie down, you are on a soft cloud. When we close our eyes we can feel magical things in our body. Make your tummy pillow as big as you can. A magical door opens and anything that scares you and worries you flows out. Make your feet floppy and put a big smile in your heart. It is very important to be still every day. If you are very busy you must remember to close your eyes and be quiet.”

It is so relaxing that a mother, observing the class, lies down in a meditative state.

“We laugh a lot, which exercises the solar plexus. There are 72000 nerve endings in the solar plexus, did you know? Children laugh 300 times a day, yet adults laugh three times a week. It facilitates the release of negative emotions.

“Children carry what parents expose them to. This is a peaceful time for them. They also learn to focus, which helps with the learning problems for which every other child is on medication these days,” Buzgar says, rolling huge blue eyes.

Classes are limited to 6 – 8 children and are 30 minutes long. An adult needs to accompany children under the age of 5. Wear comfortable clothes that will not restrict your movements. Mats are provided but you are welcome to bring your own.

Kids Yoga is also available at several schools. Contact us for more information.

Reflexology as a therapy is both old and new. In ancient history, pressure therapies were recognized as preventive and therapeutic. Foot massage has been practiced by a variety of cultures and it is generally believed that its roots date as far back as 5000 years ago in China. Because of the dedication of practitioners worldwide, reflexology has developed into a respected and effective healing therapy.

Ancient healers used various methodologies to strengthen and balance the energy flow in the body. They acknowledge that energy flows in zones or meridians throughout the body and that these pathways link organs and body parts. Zone therapy has a European (fourteenth century) and American (twentieth century) influence. The Chinese divided the body into meridians and the Western awareness thereof came as late as the 1900’s. These energy pathways are the primary basis for reflexology.

In the short term, the children will benefit from the creative class structure and the physical aspects of the posture work.

However, in the long term classes will help children to develop a stronger sense of self-esteem, respect for one another and the values of a healthy lifestyle. This combination will lead to a well balanced individual, better prepared for the teenage years ahead.

The Five Principles of Yoga are the basis of attaining a healthy body and mind through the Practice of Yoga.

Principle 1: Proper Relaxation
By releasing the tension in the muscles and putting the whole body at rest, you revitalize your Nervous System and achieve inner peace, making you feel relaxed and refreshed. This relaxed feeling is carried over into all your activities and helps you conserve your energy and let go of all worries and fears.